Two horrors and a heart

Since it is Halliween week, I decided to pick up some new horror movies.

Insidious 3 was one of the films and I need to be reminded when part 4 inevitably comes out that I really don't like this horror franchise.  The first one was pretty good. I didn't like the second one at all, and the third one is just slightly better than 2.  Insidious 3 adds nothing new to the series, but what it does have is more Lin Shaye who is really the best part of the whole series.   If they want to keep going they really need to make her the lead. She,is much more compelling that Dermot Mulroney who is considered the lead of this one.

Then I caught We are Still Here which on the surface doesn't add much to the whole haunted house genre. But a funny thing happened, and I can't get this one out of my head.   The story itself isn't so fresh, but it feels very real because the cast is made up of middle age normal looking actors who you could just as easily spot at the grocery store.  While it is not particularly original, it does deserve a watch for its realistic approach to the genre.


Then I had enough of average horror films, and I needed some heart. I found that with I'll See you in My Dreams.  It's hard to believe that Blythe Danner has never been a lead in a film, but she has definitely earned the chance and she is the best part of this movie.  The movie itself is charming, but has its problem plot points that I won't ruin.  I liked the scenes with her friends.  Danner's character is friends with characters played by June Squibb, Rhea Perlman, and Mary Kay Place, who should be the next incarnation of The Golden Girls.  It's also nice to see Sam Elliot who will still be sexy at any age as well.  I would definitely not be disappointed if Blythe Danner gets an Oscar nomination for this.  It's a lovely performance.

Insidious 3- 5 out of 10
We Are Still Here 6 out of 10
I'll See you in my Dreams 7 out of 10

Actors of the future

In 2009 I saw a performance by a relatively unknown actor that blew me away. The actor was Carey Mulligan and the film was the excellent An Education.  I hoped that based on that performance, Mulligan would have an interest career ahead of her.  So far I have not been disappointed. She has made interesting choices as opposed to popular ones.  She has continued to show quality work in movies like Drive, Never Let me Go, and most notably in Shame with Michael Fassbender.  2015 has been a good year for her.  She is getting good reviews in Suffragette, and earlier this year she starred as a more conflicted Elizabeth Bennet type character in the costume drama Far From the Maddening Crowd.  In this film her character Bathsheba Everdene (she knows it is a terrible name) was not two but three men vying for her attention, but we know in the first five minutes who she should ultimately choose. The audience cheers for the brooding sexy sheep farmer played by Matthias Schoenaerts. With any luck Schoenaerts will be in every movie from now until the end of time.  There is nothing new here, but the leads have great chemistry.  It's charming, entertaining and comfortable.   It's streaming and on DVD now so check it out.

I bring Carey Mulligan up because 2015 has another fairly new performer blowing people away with an amazing performance.  Indie film lovers noticed Brie Larson a couple years ago in Short Term 12 and this summer she charmed larger audiences as Amy Schumer's sister in Traunwreck, but she may have just entered Academy award nominee with a great future ahead of her territory with an excellent performance in the new movie Room.

Room was a popular book a few years ago, and it is a hard book and movie to review without giving too much away.   Basically, it is a story told by a young child, played by Jacob Tremblay in one of the best performances I've seen a child actor ever give, about growing up in a small room with no contact  with anyone except his mother (played by Larson).  If you don't know the story that's as much plot as I am going to give away.  It is a riveting, harrowing and ultimately uplifting film and  Brie Larson will show you why she is one of the most interest actors to watch right now.  It is also great to see Joan Allen back again in a strong supporting performance.  Even if she a Little bit over botoxed these days, she is also an actor who has taken an interesting path and hopefully she will continue to get character roles like this as she gets older.

The subject matter of Room is a little tough, but it would be a shame to miss out on one of the best performances of the year by Brie Larson.  Get ready! This is an actor we will be hearing a lot more from!

Far from the Maddening Crowd 8 out of 10
Room 9 out of 10

If I chose the Emmys-The Winners

Oops I forgot about these! better late than never!

Best Female Actor  (Lead or Supporting) in a TV Movie or Miniseries
Khandi Alexander Bessie
Zoe Kazan Olive Kitteridge
Jessica Lange American Horror Story:Freak Show
Queen Latifah Bessie
Frances McDormand Olive Kitteridge-WINNER
Mo'Nique Bessie
Sarah Paulson American Horror Story: Freak Show

Best Male Actor (Lead or Supporting) in a TV movie or Mini Series
John Gallagher Jr.  Olive Kitteridge
Richard Jenkins Olive Kitteridge
Bill Murray Olive Kitteridge
David Oyelowo Nightingale- WINNER
Cory Michael Smith Olive Kitteridge
Michael Kenneth Williams Bessie
Finn Wittrock American Horror Story: Freak Show

Best TV movie. Or mini series

American Horror Story: Freak Show
Bessie
Nightingale
Olive  Kitteridge-WINNER


Best Reality Television Show
The Next Food Star
Project Runway
Rupaul's Drag Race
Shark Tank
Survivor
Top Chef Boston - WINNER


Best Guest Actress in a Series
Christine Baranski The Big Bang Theory
Kate Burton Scandal-WINNER
Marla Gibbs Scandal
Allison Janney Masters of Sex
Laurie Metcalf The Big Bang Theory
Rita Moreno Jane the Virgin
Julianne Nicholson Masters of Sex
Cicely Tyson Scandal

Best Supporting Actor in a Conedy Series
Tituss Burgess Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt-WINNER
Jaime Camil Jane the Virgin
Adam Driver Girls
Nick Offerman Parks and Recreation
Marcus Scribner blackish

Steve Zissis Togetherness

Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Allison Janney Mom
Carol Kane    Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Jenifer Lewis blackish
Melanie Lynskey Togetherness-WINNER
Lauren Weedman Looking
Constance Wu Fresh off the Boat

Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson blackish
Jonathan Groff Looking
Chris Messina The Mindy Project
Jim Parsons The Big Bang Theory
Jeffery Tambor Transparent-WINNER
Josh Thomas Please Like Me

Best Actress in a Comedy Series
Tracee Ellis Ross blackish -WINNER
Mindy Kaling The Mindy Project
Ellie Kemper Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Lisa Kudrow The Comeback
Amy Poehler Parks and Recreation
Gina Rodriguez Jane the Virgin

Best Comedy Series

Blackish
Getting on
Looking
Parks and Recreation
Togetherness
Transparent-WINNER
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Guest Actor in a Series
Christian Borle Masters of Sex
Beau Bridges Masters of Sex
Reg E. Cathey House of Cards
Jon Hamm Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt-WINNER
Paul Rudd Parks and Recreation
Sam Shepard Bloodline
Courtney B. Vance Scandal
Bradley Whitford Transparent

Best Supporting Actress in A Drama Series
Uzo Aduba Orange is the New Black
Annaleigh Ashford Masters of Sex
January Jones Mad Men
Maura Tierney the Affair
Lorraine Toussaint Orange is the New Black-WINNER
Bellamy Young Scandal

Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jim Carter Downton Abbey
Michael Kelly House of Cards
Ben Mendelsohn Bloodline-WINNER
Joe Morton Scandal
Craig T Nelson Parenthood
Jussie Smollett Empire

Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
Kyle Chandler Bloodline
Jon Hamm Mad Men
Freddie Highmore Bates Motel
Peter Krause Parenthood
Kevin Spacey House.of Cards
Dominic West The Affair-WINNER


Best Lead Actress in a Drama
Lizzie Caplan Masters of Sex
Olivia Colman Broadchurch
Viola Davis How to Get Away With Murder
Taraji B. Henson Empire
Ruth Wilson The Affair
Robin Wright House of Cards-WINNER

Best Drama Series
The Affair
Empire
House of Cards
Mad Men
Orange is t he New Black-WINNER

PParenthood
The Walking Dead

Film: Short reviews of films I have recently seen: Goodnight Mommy, About Elly, Mad Max:Fury Road and Unfriended

Goodnight Mommy: This German film doesn't  really feel like a horror movie until the  final third.  It's story about a mother who gets plastic surgery and her children think she's an imposter takes a scary  turn into its last act and its chills are numerous.  Try not to figure out the twist.  I figured it out and it's more fun to not know.   7 out of 10

About Elly: Since The Separation, my favorite film of 2011, Ashghar Farhadi is a director I get excited to see we work. What a treat it was to watch About Elly, an earlier film of his.  While it feels a little soapier than A Separation and The Past.  Farhadi's  trademark of taking small moments and making them compelling human drama is here on display.   I definitely recommend it to view the early work of a filmmaker who I'm convinced will one day be considered a master.   8 out of 10

Mad Max: Fury Road- It is hard to argue that there hasn't been a more beautifully filmed movie than this Mad Max for a long time.  But let's face it, it's really just a movie with a lot of battles and chasing across the desert. As much as I live  Tom Hardy, his Mad Max feels like a supporting character.  The real stars here are Nicholas Hoult and especially Charlize Theron.  5 out of 10

Unfriended: This teen horror movie takes place on a character's computer screen. It is a device that I thought would get old as it did in an episode of Modern Family, but it is done here to great effect and the film is surprisingly suspenseful and interesting.  While it's still teen horror schlock, this cautionary tale about cyber bullying surprised me and definitely could've been much worse.  6 out of 10